El Dorado County
Biographies
CALEB GARDNER CARPENTER
Of Diamond Springs, is a son of Nathan and Sibyl Carpenter, of Chenango county, New York, where he was born March 14th, 1817. There were five children who lived to maturity, viz.: Maria, Nancy, George, Exana and the subject of this sketch, who worked on a farm, in a saw-mill and in a carding mill, in which branches of trade his father was engaged. In 1838 he departed from the parental roof and traveled through the Western States, for about six years working at intervals, as a pleasing opportunity offered. In 1844 engaged in merchandising in Chicago, this he followed for seven years. In 1851 he came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, and located at Diamond Springs, and for four or five years was engaged in mining. About 1856 or ’57 he opened a brewing business in Diamond Springs, after three years he closed the business up and engaged in fruit growing on the place he now owns. He has now one of the finest orchards in the county, consisting of 2,000 apple, 2,000 pear, 500 peach, 500 plum, 50 apricot, 50 almond trees and a great quantity of walnut, quinces, nectarines, together with small fruits, chestnut, mulberry, oranges, lemons, figs and pomegranate, together with about one dozen persimmons and about 125,000 grape vines, from which he makes brandy and wine; for brandy he claims superiority, having obtained the first premiums over all competitors at State and other fairs. He has brandy for which he gets $10 per gallon at this writing, (1882), it is eighteen years old. He married in 1851 to Sarah H. Payne, a native of England, by this union there has been five children, viz.: Caleb F., Nathan T., Sarah, Walter D. and Mary Louella, all faithful and industrious. Mr. Carpenter is an active member of the Placerville Grange, of which he is the Master, and has infused new life into the Order that was on the decline. He was twice Master of the Grange in the early establishment. In 1878 his residence and surroundings were destroyed by fire, the year preceding he had lost another property by incendiarism, and in 1879 he was bereft of his wife, thus did ill-luck seem to brood about him, but despite it all he labored on and did prosper. He now has one of the most beautiful and valuable properties in El Dorado county.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 236
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler